LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Augustana softball's Gracey Brink and Torri Chute are on the initial list for the 2023 Tucci/NFCA Division II Player of the Year watchlist. New in 2023, the list is broken down into eight NCAA regions with up to 15 student-athletes represented for each region.
 
It is of no surprise that the duo is part of the list as returning NFCA All-America honorees. Chute, hailing from Woodbury, Minnesota, is a 2022 First Team NCFCA All-America honoree. In 2023, she is batting .366 with 10 doubles and 19 RBI. She has racked up 26 hits while working a team-best 15 walks.
 
Brink, a native of Rapid City, South Dakota, earned Third Team NFCA All-America honors in 2022 as a catcher. In 2023, she learned a new position, splitting her time in left field and catching while batting a team-best .403 with 23 RBI and 29 hits. She has belted six home runs while owning a .505 on-base percentage.
 
Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2023 Tucci/NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year will be announced on June 1. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award and do not have to be on this list to be considered.
 
The Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year.